We believe sustainable freedom from poverty is about giving people a hand up not a hand out. Micro-enterprise is one way we give a hand up.
PERU / MAY 2010 Joe and Shaun travelled almost twelve hours by boat up the Amazon to train micro-enterprise loan recipients in Iquitos, Peru. Cash flow, calculating market share, publicity and customer relations were covered over three days and relationships with our Peru partners strengthened.
Ron and Annette report that the micro-enterprise initiative is going strong and they see families benefitting. Ron also told us that money is a touchy subject as aid agencies have instilled an attitude of dependency and presumed entitlement. The incentive to make things work has been lost. A few loan recipients have defaulted but Ron and Annette continue to work with the people to see this attitude changed.
Joe and Shaun also had the opportunity to speak at a number of meetings and saw God transform many lives. One lady had planned to go to the hospital as she had 'tumours' and great pain in her legs. She decided, however, to attend church. She later told us that God had done something great and that all her pain had gone and the 'tumours' had disappeared.
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PHILIPPINES / JANUARY 2010 The Links team has just returned from Micro-Enterprise training in the Philippines. Thirty participants from Tondo Dump spent three days learning how to run successful small businesses. They threw themselves into the exercises and openly shared about their past experiences, what they were learning and what they would change in the future. We also had the opportunity to meet Julia, a Links micro-Enterprise loan recipient.Julia is a widow with eleven children. The Links loan enabled her to establish an eatery and her food is proving a big hit with local workers. Julia is now able to provide for her children and has a dream of owning a restaurant. She's well on her way!
Links International has established micro-enterprise initiatives in Uganda, Malawi, Kenya, Colombia, Nepal, the Middle East, five throughout India and two in Peru. A great training programme, careful selection of indigenous administrators and ongoing oversight has resulted in a 95% loan repayment.
Micro-enterprise achieves so much more than simply providing income for food, clothing and education. It empowers, restores dignity, and ensures sustainable poverty relief.
Interested in making a sustainable difference? Register today to join a Links Trip.
PARTNERS IN PERU
Ana is the wife of the Pastor of the church in Iquitos, 'Cuidad de Dios'. She wanted to help her husband meet the needs of their family but being a mother of four and a pastor made taking on extra work very hard. Ana is now selling cosmetics. She is able to show people her products and they can come to her. If she is not home Ana's children help with the business. Ana says, 'I thank Pastor Joe and Links International very much for making this work of love possible for us'.
Clara invested her savings in an unofficial contract with some workers. She would prepare them three meals a day but when the time came for her to be paid they said that they didn't have the money. She was left with no income because her husband works with lumber but hasn't been able to get the lumber to town for sale because of low water. She approached the church about taking out a loan and when it was granted she was very shocked because she is not a member.
Clara says, 'I am so thankful for this loan because it is the reason we are surviving. My husband and I are very thankful to the church because we are not members and they have still helped us out. We are very thankful'.